Stereotype casting machine



April 24, 1934. G, FIELD 1,956,093

STEREOTYPE CASTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1935 4 Inm I I gn z;

Inden 50;" GEORGE A. F/El. .0

April 24, 1934., HELD 1,956,093

STEREOTYPE CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 24, 1934 UNITED STATES MEQQQB PAT NT Application January 13,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a streotype casting machine for the purpose of casting stereotype plates. Such machines usually comprise a casting box and means for pouring the molten type metal thereinto.

It is an object of this invention to provide a stereotype casting machine including a casting box and a melting pot, together with means for mounting said melting pot in a novel and improved manner.

It is another object of the inventon to provide a machine of such character comprising a casting box including relatively swinging platens which are mounted upon a horizontal axis, together with a melting pot which is also mounted upon a horizontal axis and is also mounted to be swung about a vertical axis so as to move it out of the way of the casting box while certain operations are performed with the latter.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a stereotype casting machine comprising a casting box and also comprising a melting-pot which is swingable about a horizontal axis to pouring position and is swingable about a vertical axis to swing it to one side out of the way of the casting box.

It is still another object to provide a machine of the type mentioned, including a frame having side portions, a casting box mounted for swing- 30 ing movement about a horizontal axis between said side portions, said frame having a member projecting upwardly at one side thereof, a frame supported on said member and swingable about a vertical axis thereof, said frame carrying a 35 melting pot movable with said frame to and from pouring position and also mounted about a horizontal axis.

It is still further an object of the invention to provide a stereotype casting machine having a casting box mounted to swing about a horizontal axis intermediate its ends and being overbalanced at its lower portion to normally assume an upright metal receiving position, and means for retaining said casting box in horizontal position.

With the above objects in view, as well as others which will appear as the specification proceeds, the invention comprises the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as now to be fully described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being understood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative and intended in no way in a limiting sense, changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts being permissible so long as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a stereotype casting machine made according to the inven- 1933, Serial No. 651,529

tion, the casting box being shown in upright or metal receiving position, and the melting pot being disclosed in metal retaining position in full lines and in tilted or metal pouring position in broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine of Fig. 1, showing the melting pot, in full and broken lines, in two dilierent positions; and

Fig. 3 is a view detailing features of the machine, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

With respect to the drawings and the numerals of reference thereon, 10 represents the casting box on the machine which is conveniently and removably supported upon the machine frame to be swingable between a horizontal and a metal receiving or upright position. Said machine frame consists of end members or standards 11 and 12, of curvilinear conformation as disclosed, each having feet 13 at the opposite sides thereof for resting upon a floor. The members or standards 11 and 12 may be securely fastened to the floor in any convenient way, as by nails or screws inserted in the openings 14 in said feet 13.

The end members or standards 11 and 12 may be secured in parallel and desired spaced relation to each other in any suitable manner, as by rods 15, 16 and 1'? each of which is threaded at its opposite ends to receive an inner nut 18 and an outer nut 19, said end members or standards lying between said nuts 18 and 19. If desired, suitable bracing members (not shown) can also extend between the end members or standards 11 and 12.

' The upper portion of each member or standard 11 and 12 is provided centrally at its top with a U-shaped recess having a bearing surface 20, said recesses having semi-cylindrical lower portions horizontally and axially alined in said standards.

The casting box 10 includes a lower or base member or platen 21 hingedly supporting an upper or cooperating member or platen 22. Said members or platens 21 and 22 may be hingedly connected in any suitable manner. As disclosed, the member or platen 21 carries brackets 23 adjacent the ends of its outer or lower edge, each bracket 23 including an elongated slot 24 disposed perpendicularly to said member or platen 21, and each member or platen 22 includes spaced lugs 25 and 25a projecting from their lower edges respectively, between the brackets 23, said lugs 25 and 25a being alined and substantially in engagement when box 10 is closed. Lugs 25a have their top surfaces cut away as at 25b, forming a shoulder 250. A hinge pin 26 extends through each lug 25 and each elongated slot 24, having a nut 27 threaded upon its outer end. Lug 25 rides on lug 25a and surface 25b as platen 22 is swung to open position.

The lower or base member or platen 21 has alining trunnions 28 extending outwardly from the sides thereof in the plane of said member or platen 21, which trunnions 28 are removably seated in the recesses forming bearing surfaces 20, as very clearly shown. The trunnions 28 are arranged intermediate the ends of the member or platen 21 so that the outer or lower portion of the casting box 10 slightly overbalances the inner or upper portion of said casting box. Hence, the casting box is stably positioned when in metal receiving or upright position, as disclosed in the drawings, with the bottom of the lower portion of the box in engagement with the rod 15, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1.

A locking dog 29 is pivoted, as at 30, to one side of the upper portion of the lower or base member or platen 21, and is adapted to hook under the rod 16 when the casting box is swung to horizontal position, to thus retain said casting box in horizontal position. When it is desired to have the casting box assume metal receiving or upright position, all that is required is to manually release the locking dog from said rod 16, whence the heavier lower portion of said casting box causes it to move to the position as in Figs. 1 and 2.

The upper or cooperating member or platen 22 includes a suitable handle member 31 by means of which said member or platen 22 can be swung on the pivot 26 toward and away from the member or platen 21. The arrangement is such that when the member or platen 21 is retained in horizontal position and the member of platen 22 is swung to wide open position, said member or platen 22 is situated at an angle of slightly greater than ninety degrees to said member or platen 21, so as to stably remain in said wide open position with the protuberances 25 engaging the shoulder 250 of the member or platen 21, as will be understood.

The members or platens 21 and 22 are suitably reinforced, as by webs 32.

Adjustable side bars 33 and an adjustable end bar 34, for completing the casting box in customary manner, are adapted to be suitably placed upon the upper surface of the lower or base i member or platen 21 while in horizontal position,

and thereafter the upper or cooperating member or platen 22 is adapted to be swung from wide open to closed position upon said member or platen 21, it being understood that the casting box consists of both of said platens and all of said bars. When the member or platen 22 is swung. down, the hinge between the platens adjusts itself to the thickness of the bars employed.

. By using bars 33 and 34 of varying thickness,

the thickness of the casting which is to be produced is controlled. By adjustment of the side bars 33 toward and away from each other, the width of the casting to be produced is predetermined.

Means for releasably locking the casting box in closed position includes a locking bar 35. which is rotatably mounted at one of its ends, as at 36, upon an upstanding stud 37 fastened in or integral with a portion of the member 21 between a side edge thereof and the adjacent trunnion 28 thereon. The other end of said locking bar is shaped, as indicated at 38, to removably fit about an upstanding stud 39, directly beneath a nut 40 thereon, which stud 39 is fastened in or integral with a portion of said member 21 between the opposite side edge thereof and the trunnion 28 adjacent said opposite side edge. A nut 41 holds the locking bar 35 upon the stud 3'7.

The locking bar 35 includes a center tap which receives a press screw 42, and a manipulating wheel 43 is for turning said screw home, down against the webbed portion of the member or platen 22, as very clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. To release the member or platen 22 in order that the casting box can be opened, all that is necessary is to turn the wheel 43 to slightly withdraw the screw 42, and thereafter swing the locking bar 35 on its axis 36 clear of the machine, as will be understood. To fasten said member or platen 22 down against the member or platen 21, the operations as described are reversed.

The upper end portion of the working surface of each member or platen 21 and 22 is beveled, as at 44, to provide a mouth for the casting box which will be better adapted to receive molten metal.

The machine includes a melting pot 45 for metal, and said melting pot is adjustably mounted, in the manner now to be described, to be capable of readily and easily and accurately feeding or pouring molten metal into the casting box when positioned as in Figs. 1 and 2.

An upstanding arm or post 46 is removably attached to the frame of the machine at one side thereof. As disclosed, said arm or post 46 has an aperture in the lower portion thereof which receives the rod 17, and the adjacent nut 19 on said rod 17 fastens the arm or post against the outer surface of the end member or standard 12 of the frame. Also, the arm or post 46 has an apertured ear 47 adjacent its central portion, which apertured ear receives the rod 16. The adjacent nut 19 on said rod 16 fastens the arm or post against the outer surface of said member or standard 12. The arm or post 46 is thus rigidly and removably attached to the frame of the machine, and extends upwardly at one side thereof. The upper portion of the arm or post 46 includes a reduced cylindrical portion 48 providing an annular, horizontal shoulder 49.

A semi-circular bracket 50 includes spaced apertured and parallel end portions 51 which receive and rotatably support trunnions 52 and 53 ex tending horizontally from opposite sides of the melting pot 45 at ninety degrees from the spout 5.4 of said pot. The trunnion 53 is extended beyond frame 11 and has secured thereto a manipulating handle 55 for the purpose of tilting the melting pot.

The semi-circular bracket 50 has projecting from one side thereof a flange 56 arranged adjacent the trunnion 52, at the outer side thereof from which project vertically spaced, perforated lugs 57 receiving the reduced cylindrical portion 48 of the arm or post 46, to rotatably support said bracket 50 upon said arm or post 46. When the flange 56 is assembled with the reduced cylindrical portion of the arm or post 46, the lower ear 57 rests upon the annular, horizontal shoulder 49.

In addition to serving as means for tilting the melting pot 45, the handle 55 is also manipulable to swing the semi-circular bracket 50, and with it the melting pot, about the axis of post 46 toward and away'from the mouth of the casting box when in metal receiving position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The base of the melting pot houses an electric heater 58, numeral 59 representing feed wires leading from a suitable source of electric current to said electric heater.

In operation when the usual operations are to be performed on the casting box, such as positiom'ng the bars 33 and 34, which necessitates opening the casting box, the melting pot 45 will be swung out of the way by swinging it about the axis of portion 48 as indicated by the dotted line position in Fig. 2. The pot, of course, can be swung much further away than indicated in said dotted line position. After the casting box is ready for the pouring operation and is again positioned as shown in Fig. l, the operator can swing the bracket 50 and pot 45 back to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, by taking hold of the handle 55. When the pot is brought to the desired position it can be swung about the axis of trunnions 52 and 53 and if necessary, further moved slightly about the axis of portion 48 so that spout 54 is brought into the desired and proper position for the pouring operation. By the possibility of movement about both of said axes, the spout 54 can be brought very accurately to the desired pouring position and the metal from said pot poured into the casting box. After the pouring operation, the pot and bracket 50 can again be swung away so that they will be out of the way for the subsequent operations with the casting box. The metal in the pot 45 will be brought to the desired molten state by suitable heating means, such as the electric heater 58 already described.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very simple and easily operated machine which can be quickly operated in an efficient manner for the necessary operations. The parts are quite few and the machine provides for very accurate pouring of the metal from the melting pot into the casting box.

The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice, found to be very successful and efficient, and is being commercially made.

What is claimed is:

1. A stereotype casting machine having in combination, a frame, a casting box swingable thereon to and from metal receiving position, a melting pot, a bracket mounted on said frame and extending above the elevation of said casting box and having means supporting said pot about a horizontal axis, and means for supporting said bracket for movement about a vertical axis, said bracket being swingable about said vertical axis to move said melting pot toward and away from said casting box when in metal receiving position, and said melting pot being tiltable on said horizontal axis to metal pouring position.

2. A stereotype casting machine comprising a frame, a casting box swingable on said frame to and from metal receiving position, a melting pot, a bracket above the elevation of said casting box swingable about a vertical axis and having means supporting said melting pot for movoment about a horizontal axis, a support for said bracket secured to said frame, and a single means for swinging said bracket about said vertical axis to move said melting pot toward and away from said casting box when in metal receiving position and for tilting said melting pot about said horizontal axis to metal pouring position.

3. A stereotype casting machine comprising a casting box movable to metal receiving position, a bracket member above the elevation of said casting box, a melting pot, trunnions extending horizontally from said melting pot and mounted in said bracket member, a support providing a vertical post upon which said bracket member is rotatably mounted, and a handle formed as an extension of one of said trunnions for swinging said bracket member to move said melting pot toward and away from said casting box when in metal receiving position and for tilting said melting pot to metal pouring position.

4. A stereotype casting machine comprising a casting box oscillatable to and from metal receiving position, a frame supporting said casting box, an upstanding arm upon said frame at one side of said casting box and adjacent one end of said frame, a bracket rotatable about a vertical axis mounted upon said arm above the elevation of said casting box, a melting pot oscillatably mounted in said bracket, and means for swinging said bracket member to move said melting pot toward and away from said casting box when in metal receiving position and for tilting said melting pot to metal pouring position.

5. A stereotype casting machine comprising a frame, a casting box oscillatably mounted on said frame and movable between a horizontal and an upright metal receiving position, an upstanding arm upon said frame at one end of said casting box, said arm having a reduced, cylindrical upper end portion, a bracket member rotatably mounted upon said cylindrical portion above the elevation of said casting box, a melting pot having opposite trunnions oscillatably mounted in said bracket member, and a manipulating handle constituted as an extension of one of said trunnions and arranged at a side of said bracket member for swinging said bracket member to move said melting pot toward and away from said casting box when in metal receiving position and for tilting said melting pot to metal pouring position.

6. A stereotype casting machine having in combination, a frame, a casting box swingably mounted on said frame, a melting pot, said frame including a rigid member secured thereto for supporting said melting pot above said casting box, a rigid means in which said pot is mounted carried by said member and swingable about a vertical axis toward and from said casting box and also being swingable about a horizontal axis for tilting said pot.

'7. A stereotype casting machine comprising a casting box, a melting pot, a frame having a portion in which said casting box is swingably mounted and having another rigid portion for supporting said melting pot, a rigid member carrying said pot and mounted on said last mentioned portion at an elevation above said casting box and swingable on said last mentioned portion about a vertical axis toward and away from said casting box and being tiltable about a horizontal axis to metal pouring position and a single means for both swinging and tilting said pot.

8. A stereotype casting machine having in combination, a frame, a casting box oscillatably mounted on said frame to swing from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially upright metal receiving position, a rigid member secured to said frame, a second rigid member carried by said member and oscillatable thereon about a vertical axis, a member mounted in said second rigid member for oscillation about a hori zontal axis, a melting pot carried by said last mentioned member and means for tilting said last mentioned member and melting pot about said horizontal axis.

GEORGE A. FIELD. 

